The Affair of the Necklace Page #3

You doubt my abilities?

I sense such turmoil within you.

I sense fear as well.

I am not afraid.

This is one of the more delightful

evenings I've spent in a catacomb.

Early on...

...you learned to hide what you feel.

You've had great losses in your life.

Shall I go deeper?

There is no one here who hasn't lost

something which can't be replaced.

You were taken in by strangers,

then cast aside.

Always, you were on the outside

looking in...

...longing for that

which was taken from you.

Still...

...that's not what hurt most.

I see you...

...hovering over a cold grave...

...wishing it were your own...

...but it was not.

Was it?

Comtesse?

A grave...

...dug for your mother's coffin.

Have I gone far enough?

Well, then, who's next?

Oh, that's working splendidly.

Smooth and even, monsieur.

A job done with conscientiousness

is a job that endures.

Yes, Majesty.

If he directed government like that,

France would rule the world.

Maman, watch me, watch me.

They are such a comfort to me.

A wonderful distraction.

I heard there were more disturbances.

- A small gathering of malcontents.

How small a gathering?

- Nearly 200.

No doubt my name was used in vain.

- Arrests were made, naturally.

Why do the people hate me?

It wasn't always so.

Your Majesty is not the source

of the animosity.

You're merely a symbol to aim it at.

You show fantastic audacity

in seeking me out.

Though I knew you would.

Did you denounce me to the cardinal?

I told him that despite your troubled past...

...I did sense an opportunity.

If you'd like my visions of you

to remain positive, share...

...in what you gain from the cardinal.

I was caught off guard by the intimate

details you knew about my life.

And then I realized

the Marquise Boulainvilliers...

...a charitable woman who took me

in as a child, she was superstitious.

Magicians and mesmerists often

entertained in her parlor.

What is that to me?

A person of your colorful nature may

have found their way into her home.

In the course of your prognostications...

...you may have asked her a few questions.

If you'd like to trade secrets

in front of the cardinal...

...keep in mind I have his confidence.

Also, the court is full of people...

...who would tear you to pieces

if I fed them enough lies.

Be careful.

I've done this a long time.

That is precisely why I will do it.

I have nothing to lose.

I keep him interested in me

and you will share in the rewards.

But remember that our fates

will now be joined as one.

I sense a surprising alliance on the horizon.

Long life, countess.

To Louis de Rohan,

cardinal of France.

It has come to mind

that the silence between us...

...has gone on far, far too long.

Excellency, Jeanne de la Motte...

'An apology would seem

the proper starting point...

...if we are to mend damaged feelings.'

A prince of the house of Rohan

apologize? It's never been done.

For years you've anguished.

She hasn't given you a look or a word.

You now hold a letter from her

of the most affable nature.

Yes, well, I submit Antoinette's

loathing of me has become somewhat...

...more than an irritation.

You need not suffer anymore.

If I acquiesced, would the reply

be delivered by your hand?

It would reach Her Majesty no other way.

Very well.

A note of credit will be advanced

to you in the sum of 5,000 gold louis.

Twenty thousand would seem

more appropriate.

Are you attempting to bargain with me?

Not long ago, a young woman

much like yourself...

...attempted to extort money from me.

She came forth with claims

of having experienced...

...some mistreatment at my hands.

Her accusations were,

of course, unfounded.

She was the niece of the captain

of my private guard.

One night, her uncle slipped

into this young woman's room...

...with a very sharp blade.

He slit the poor girl from her genitalia...

...to the dimple on her pretty chin.

Do you know why a man would do

such a thing to his own kin?

Because I told him to.

Never test my good nature, countess.

I must ask that Your Eminence be mindful.

I can shatter this correspondence

as easily as I formed it.

The cardinal's threat inspired renewed

communications from Antoinette.

Dearest Rohan...

In time, His Eminence made clear his

wish to meet the queen in private.

I'm anxious for reconciliation.

My earnest cardinal...

For the hopeful countess and her devotee...

...keeping the cardinal at arm's

length drew them even closer.

You may count on my discretion.

Yet, as Rohan's correspondence with

the queen grew more intimate...

Your devoted cardinal.

- Your devoted queen.

...those on the streets of Paris

saw Her Majesty...

...in a far different light.

Antoinette responded

by cloistering herself...

...behind the gilded gates of Versailles.

In that privileged asylum, it's little

wonder the queen failed to notice...

...a burgeoning threat in her very midst.

Is that the Countess de la Motte?

- What caused the transformation?

I've heard that Antoinette has taken

the countess under her wing.

Monsieur de Villette informs me

that they've become ever so close.

In the beginning,

it was my intent to simply use you.

A confession.

This is a fragile moment.

Yet somewhere along the journey...

...I have come to rely on you.

I have never felt that way about anyone.

Nicolas. How dare you?

It is seldom a man gets to watch

his wife make love from...

...that vantage point.

You are not welcome here.

Go back to your actress.

Upon hearing of your change in

fortunes, my affections rekindled.

In a blink, she seemed drab

and common, whereas...

...you were once again my reason to live.

I've missed your touch.

Nicolas. Do not do this.

To what do you refer, my cherished?

Let's sort this out in another way.

- What happened, Rtaux?

Did you grow weary of plowing your way

through the old women?

It was bound to happen, I suppose.

Forgive me. I heard a noise

and I took the gun from your bag.

Rosalie, you've just shot my husband.

- Oh, God.

Goddamn.

Are you digging for potatoes? Go easy.

I didn't tell you how to get this projectile in.

Do not presume to tell me how to get it out.

Goddamn.

It is lodged in the fleshy tissues.

- Madame, there's a gentleman here.

How lovely. Monsieur Bassenge.

- Madame.

To what do I owe the honor?

Oh, dear. One of the menials

is having a tooth drawn.

It's never a pleasant procedure.

- No.

Please sit. Will you take some port?

- That's very kind, thank you.

Monsieur Bhmer could not join me.

He is in his sickbed over the matter

about which I wish to speak.

I pray his discomfort is not serious.

This burden has leeched the very will

to live out of a formerly robust man.

If I can improve the situation,

you may rely on me.

It has come to my attention that

you have influence with Antoinette.

On certain issues.

Then I'd like to make you aware

of a rather lucrative proposition.

I must ask you keep this

in strict confidence.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes